Pubdate: Tue, 10 Dec 2002
Source: Commercial Appeal (TN)
Copyright: 2002 The Commercial Appeal
Contact:  http://www.gomemphis.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/95
Author: Lawrence Buser

DRUG MATERIALS, GUN UNCOVERED WHERE DEPUTY WAS KILLED

Marijuana, cocaine residue and drug paraphernalia were found at the Frayser 
residence where sheriff's deputy George Selby was killed last week while 
trying to serve a search warrant, court papers showed Monday. The man 
identified in the warrant, Reginald Rome, made a first appearance Monday in 
General Sessions Criminal Court, where he faces first-degree murder charges.

Judge Greg Gilluly explained the charges to Rome, including being a felon 
in possession of a handgun, and ordered that he remain in jail without bond.

Gilluly was appointed to the bench by the County Commission to fill in for 
Judge Ann Pugh, who took a leave about three months ago for health reasons.

Rome, 45, is scheduled to return to court next Monday to announce whether 
he can hire an attorney. He wore a red high-security jail smock, and his 
left arm was bandaged from his hand to above the elbow. He was shot in the 
left hand and sustained dog bites in the incident last week. State 
prosecutor Bobby Carter said the state almost certainly will seek the death 
penalty since Rome is accused of killing an officer in the line of duty.

Assistant public defender Dianne Thackery announced that her office would 
recuse itself from representing Rome because a secretary in the office has 
a son on the narcotics squad who knew and worked with Selby.

Defense attorney Paul Springer said in court Rome's family has talked with 
his office about taking the case.

Because the victim was a law enforcement officer, a jailer videotaped 
Rome's movements to and from court to make a record of his treatment while 
in custody.

The shooting occurred around 6 p.m. Wednesday at 2433 Chattering Lane as 
Selby, 33, and 11 other officers from the Shelby County Narcotics Unit were 
serving a search warrant seeking illegal drugs.

The warrant issued the previous day said a reliable informant had told 
deputies of seeing Rome storing and selling cocaine and marijuana at the 
Chattering Lane address within the previous five days.

The return on the warrant says officers seized four grams of marijuana, two 
crack cooking tubes that tested positive for cocaine, scales, rolling 
papers, miscellaneous paperwork, pictures, a cell phone, a razor blade with 
cocaine residue, Tupperware and a small plastic bag.

Investigators said they also recovered a .357-caliber Magnum Colt King 
Cobra pistol said to belong to Rome, who has a felony drug conviction that 
would bar him from owning a firearm. It is believed to be the weapon used 
to kill Selby.

A second man in the house, Calvin Joe Williams, 42, was questioned by 
police and released last week.
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